Removable curb box



Jan. 21, 1930. M. w. MERRIMAN REMOVABLE CURB BOX Filed April 15, 1929 Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOVABLE CURB BOX Application filed April 13, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in removable curb boxes, such as are employed in catch'basins located adjacent the curbing of a city street. The frame of the catchbasin extends beyond the line of the curbing, and as a rule the stone or concrete curbing is interrupted opposite the catch-basin and a metallic curb section, known as a curb box, is inserted in the catch-basin frame in alignment with the curbing proper. This box is hollow and on the side toward the street is open so that drainage water may enter and pass through the curb box to the catch basin as well as through the grate which is flush with the pavement. These boxes, being 1101- low cast metal, are sometimes broken in use and must be replaced. Heretofore it has been necessary under such circumstances to dig down behind the curbing line and to remove some of the curbing on each side of the catchbasin in order to get at the bolts holding the curb box in place in the frame.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a curb box of such construction, and the mounting of the securing bolts in such manner, that a curb box may be removed or replaced without disturbing anything outside of the frame itself.

Another object is the provision of a special bolt mounting for accomplishing the purpose named.

Still another object is the provision of a curb box so formed that it may be lowered into position in the frame after the securing bolts are mounted in the frame.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of i that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

\ Figure 1 is a plan View of a catch-basin with a curb box mounted thereon.

i Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken 45 substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 8, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view, on a larger scale, corresponding with a portion of Fig. 50 2, and

Serial No. 354,868.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same; looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 4:.

In the drawing I have shown a catch'basin frame comprising a horizontal flange adapted to be set into the pavement of a road or street adjacent the curbing thereof. This frame also comprises a ring 11 from which is supported an inwardly extending annular ledge 12, the upper surface of which constitutes a seat for the periphery of a circular grating 13. hen the frame is in place in a street, the upper surface of the grating 13 is flush with the surface of the street pavement. lVater flowing along the gutter of the street is therefore free to enter the drain by way of the grating 13.

In the catch basin frame, directly adjacent to the ring 11, there is a rectangular opening 14 which, when the frame is properly positioned in the pavement, is in alignment with the curbing of the street. Surrounding the opening the frame is formed with upstanding side walls 15 and 16 and end walls 17 and 18, the wall 15 being braced preferably by a pair of webs 19 cast integral with the wall and the base flange 10.

In each of the walls 15, 17 and 18 I form, in the casting of the same, a hole 20, from the lower side of which extends downwardly a slot 21. The hole 20 and the slot 21 are of sufficient size to take the head and shank respectively of a bolt 22. Above and surrounding each hole 21 and slot 22 there is a hood 23 which is spaced laterally from the surface of the wall far enough to provide a groove 24 of a width and depth suflicient to permit the head of the bolt to move lengthwise of the groove but not to rotate therein.

The curb box 25 is shaped across the top to correspond with the shape of the curbing with which it is used, and has side walls so spaced as to fit loosely within the walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the catch-basin frame. The two end w lls and one side wall. of this box have vertical, slightly tapered slots 26 extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the box at points such that when the box is lowered into position in the frame these slots will receive the shanks of the bolts 22. The box 25 on the side adjacent the wall 16 of the frame has a large opening 27 therein extending to the lower edge of the box. \Vhen the latter is in position in the cahh-basin a relatively narrow portion of this opening is exposed above the frame wall 16, the exposed portion being of sufficient width however to give access to the interior of the box and the inner ends of the bolts 22, as well as to the nuts and washers 28 and 29 on the bolts.

In assembling the frame and curb box, the bolts 22 are projected through the holes 20 from inside the frame opening 14. When the heads of the bolts are within the grooves 24:, the bolts are moved downwardly, their shanks passing into the slots 21 and finally restingin the bottoms of those slots. The nuts and washers 28 and 29 are then removed entirely or threaded outwardly far enough to leave a considerable amount of the shanks of the bolts exposed within the opening 14-, after which the box 25 may be lowered into position, the tapered slots 26 thereof traveling over the bolt shanks. When the upper ends of these slots have seated themselves upon the shanks of the bolts the workman reaches in through the exposed portion of the opening 27 and tightens the nuts 28 thereby securely fastening down the curb box. \Vhile I prefer to employ three bolts, mounted in as many sides of the curb box, a smaller or a greater number could obviously be used.

Now, if it should become necessary at any time to remove the curb box 25, the workman reaches in with his wrench through the opening 27 and loosens the nuts 28, after which the box may be lifted out and a new one put in its place. In case the bolts have become badly rusted on account of long exposure to the Weather, and the workman is unable to loosen one or more of them, the nuts on such bolts can be broken or cut away with a cold chisel or the like. As soon as the curb box has been lifted out, the old bolts may be removed by merely slipping them up in the slots 21 and pulling them through the holes 20, and new ones may then be slipped into position from inside the frame opening, that is without any necessity for exposing the outer surfaces of the walls 15, 17, and 18.

While in the foregoing specification and in the accompanying drawing I have disclosed a more or less specific form of the invention, I desire it to be understood that such detail disclosure is primarily for the purpose of fully illustrating the invention, and is not to be construed as amounting to a limitation upon the scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected downwardly into said opening and to substantially fill the same, said curb box having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the lower edge of one of its vertical walls, a bolt mounted in said frame adapted to be received within said slot as the curb box is lowered. into position, and means on the outer side of said frame for preventing rotation of said bolt while permitting vertical movement thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected downwardly into said opening and to substantially fill the same, said curb box having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the lower edge of one of its vertical walls, and a bolt mounted in a keyhole slot in said frame whereby it is re1nov able through said opening, said bolt being adapted to be received within said slot as the curb box is lowered into position.

In a device of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected downwardly in to said opening and to substantially fill the san1e,said curb box having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the lower edge of one of its vertical walls, and a bolt mounted in a keynole slot in said frame adapted to be received within said curb box slot as the curb box is lowe ed to position, said curb box having an opening therein above the frame, through which an operator may gain access to the inner end of said bolt.

4:. In a device of the class described, a frame having an elongated opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected down wardly into said opening and to substantially fill the same, a bolt mounted in a keyhole slot in each of three sides of said frame and extending horizontally into said opening, said box having vertical slots extending upwardly from the lower edges of three of its vertical walls, said slots being adapted to receive said bolts as the box is lowered into said open ing.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame having an elongated opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected downwardly into said opening and to substantially fill the same, a bolt mounted in a keyhole slot in each of three sides of said frame and extending horizontally into said opening, said box having vertical slots extending upwardly from the lower edges of three of its vertical walls, said slots being adapted to receive said bolts as the box is lowered into said opening,

said curb box having an opening in the remaining vertical wall above the frame, through which an operator may gain access to the inner ends of said bolts.

(3. In a device of the character described, a frame havin an opening therein adapted to receive a curb ox, one wall of said frame adjacent the opening having a hole therethrough with a vertical slot therebeneath and communicating therewith, and means upon the external side of said wall adapted to engage the head of a bolt in said slot for preventing rotation of the bolt, said hole being large enough to permit the bolt head to be projected therethrough, whereby the bolt may be set in position in said frame from Withinsaid frame opening.

7. In a device of the character described, a frame having an opening therein adapted to receive a curb box, one wall of said frame adj acent the opening having a hole therethrough with a Vertical slot therebeneath and communicating therewith, and a hood mounted upon the external wall of said frame overlapping said hole and slot, said hood being adapted to engage the head of a bolt in said slot for preventing the rotation of the bolt, said hole being large enough to permit the bolt head to be projected therethrough, whereby the bolt may be set in position in said frame from within said frame opening.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame having an opening therein, a curb box adapted to be projected downwardly into said opening, one wall of said opening adjacent the frame having a hole therethrough with a vertical bolt slot therebeneath and communicating therewith, a hood mounted upon the external wall of said frame adjacent the opening overlapping said hole and slot, said hood being adapted to engage the head of the bolt in said slot for preventing the rotation of the bolt, said hole being large enough to permit the bolt head to be projected therethrough from within said opening, said curb box having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof adapted to receive the bolt in said slot when the box is lowered into position in said opening, and said box having an opening therethrough above the level of the frame through which access may be had to the interior of the box and to the nut upon said bolt.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

MICHAEL W. MERRIMAN. 

